April 23, 2010

Jobs Bill Could Open Doors to Employment for PWD

From AAPD (4.19.10):

AAPD Learns About “Local Jobs for America Act:” People with Disabilities Could Benefit

Story by Abir Joubran–Dakwar, Policy Intern, AAPD.

On Monday, April 12, 2010 AAPD participated in a teleconference entitled “America's Most Pressing Need - Good Jobs: Supporting the Local Jobs for America Act”, a briefing provided by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR). The briefing provided a summary and update on a bill, the “Local Jobs for America Act” (H.R. 4812), sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA) Chairman of the House Education & Labor Committee, a bill that would create new jobs in the public sector. Currently H.R.4812 has 139 Democratic co-sponsors, and has been referred to the full committee for action. While the measure does not specifically mention people with disabilities, expansion of jobs in the public sector could lead to more jobs for some people with disabilities.

According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in March 2010 the work participation rate of non-institutional people with disabilities, 16 years old and over, was only 22.5% compared to 70.2% of people with no disability. For more information on current disability employment statistics, see http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

Briefing presentations were provided by: Steve Savner, director of public policy for The Center for Community Change; Liz Shuler, secretary treasurer of the AFL-CIO; Alan Charney, campaign manager for Jobs for America Now; Ellen Buchman, vice president for field operations for the Leadership Conference; and Gordon Lafer, senior labor policy advisor for House Committee on Education and Labor. Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference, moderated the call. Henderson noted that there are “roughly 6 unemployed Americans for every job,” noting the need for “economic justice” and that “job creation has to be priority.” He said that the “the local jobs for America Act H.R. 4812 … will help ...the most vulnerable who need good secure jobs in their communities.”

Savner, Center for Community Change, said that “there is a wide agreement that there is a need to create new jobs and to extend job security” and that H.R. 4812 would use federal resources to create jobs, using a hundred million dollars over the next two years to create a million jobs. These jobs would be created in states and municipalities with the greatest number of people out of work. These jobs would be education, daycare, healthcare, transportation, public safety and other community services.

According to Shuler, Chairman Miller and his staff are working closely with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees to make sure that "this bill will accomplish its aim of creating good jobs where needed most, without displacing current public sector jobs or public sector workers.” Charney, campaign manager for Jobs for America Now, said that even if the bill is enacted, there still be challenges and coordination needed “in the states in the districts and states all around the country to create real movement for job creation.”

Committee staffer Lafer stated that the bill would not create part-time jobs or low rate jobs or temporary jobs, but would create about a million average fully federal paid jobs for two years in public services and in community-based organizations in high poverty areas, with pay at about $30,000 per year. Lafer emphasized that passing the bill depends not only on local officials, but on people and organizations working to support the bill.

"...would create about a million average fully federal paid jobs for two years in public services and in community-based organizations in high poverty areas, with pay at about $30,000 per year..." I do not understand. We need to aim higher! Give it to small business owners and HR departmetns at corporations who are willing to hire people with disabilities, give it to entrepreneurs with disabilities who want to hire others and create wealth. Heck! Giving $1 million dollars out to each soul would save money! (I am not advocating that, just looking at the governmental math here.)

Frankie Mastrangelo is the moderator for both the Justice For All (JFA) national email listerv as well as for the JFActivist blog. She is also an organizer for the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.